Lens strap mounting



Aug. 15, 1939. w; s. SEARLE 2,169,666

LENS STRAP MOUNTI NG Filed Feb. 16, 1935 IIIlI-Illl IMI-11H1 l IN V EN TOR.

A TJ' ORNE YS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATI-:s

`PATENT OFFICE Universal Optical Corporation,

Providence,

B.. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application February 16, 1935,'.seria1 No. 6,820

13 claims.

This invention relates to an ophthalmic mounting, more particularly a strap for a, rimless lens; and has for one of its objects the provision of means for compensating for irregular 5 distances of the opening through the lenses from the edge thereof and through which opening the securing screw extends in fastening the strap thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a somewhat flexible but rm support to hold the lens' and strap in desired relation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a firm and yet non-rigid support for a leaf spring which engages the edge of the lens to control the action 4of this spring and yet itself yield to certain greater pressures prior to rupture of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to divide the resilience between the strap and the edge of the lens into a plurality of parts so that a rm yet flexible support will be had and one in which the resistance may be nicely controlled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a resilient action in which the resilient parts are divided and may slide one upon the other in controlling the movement of the lens and strap mounted thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of resilience between the strap and the lens, which will be entirely controlled through resilient means with no support from the shoe or body portion of the strap.

Another object of the invention is the avoidance of the necessity of a shoe which must be bent to properly engage a spring whichin turn engages the lens and the utilization of a resilient v self adjusting'leaf spring therefor which needs no individual manipulation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a strap and resilient means thereon which although formed of more pieces than heretofore may be formed as a single unit with no separate pieces for assembly in fitting and adapting the same to the lens.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of con-` struction, as will be more fully described, and

particularly pointedy out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating straps mounted at the inner and outer edges of the lens and embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through thestrap and the spring and showing a fragmental portion of the lens as related thereto;

Fig. 3 is 'a sectional view similar to Figure 2, showinga lens of a somewhat dliferent shape;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the strap with the springs omitted;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the springs;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another of the springs;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are sectional views similar tol Figures 2 and 3 illustrating modified forms of spring arrangements.

In the mounting of a strap upon a lens, it is frequent for the distance from the screw opening in the lens to the edge of the lensI to vary in different lenses, and in order to compensate for such variation, a spring take-up is used by positioning a leaf spring along the edge of the lens and between the edge and the strap, whichalso serves the useful purpose of providing a tension upon the securing screw which extends through the arms of the strap and the lens; and in order that this pressure may be increased for a firmer securing of theparts together and yet a nonrigid construction provided retaining its resilience and affording a greater scope of flexibility, I have provided two or more springs between the strap and the lens, with the longer spring engaging the lens, and the shorter, stiffer spring formed on the arc of a different and shorter radius to engage this longer spring so that its ends will engage just inwardly from the ends of the longer spring and support this longer spring, leaving the portion of the longer spring extending beyond the ends of th'e shorter for greater flexibility and softer action on the lens and' yet reinforcing the general length ofthe longer spring to such an extent that a very rm support is provided, and

yet one which is not rigid but will give, should severe or excessive strains be brought to bear upon the parts, by which construction the springs do the complete supporting without use of any rigid portion of the shoe whatsoever and thus without the necessity ofindividual manual adjustment by bending of the rigid shoe each time a 'different lens is positioned in the strap; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advan-` tageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, I0 designates a lens of the rimless type to which there is secured at the inner edge a strap I I having a bridge I2 secured thereto and at its outer edge a strap I3 having a temple I 4 secured thereto.

'Ihese straps II and I3 are of substantially the same construction as to their portions engaging the lens, and each consists of a body portion I5- with opposite arms i8 and I1 provided with openings I8 and i9 to align with opening 20 in the lens and receive a threaded pin or screw 2i through these openings with the screw threads engaging corresponding threads in the opening I8 in the arm i6 which is located at the back of the lens.

This body portion is provided with extensions 23 and 24 forming a portion of the usual shoe with the inner surface 25 fiat or located in substantially a single plane, affording a broad support for the spring when under heavy compression. A stud 26 protrudes from the center of this surface.

Two springs 21 and 28 are positioned one on the other, each being provided with an opening as at 29, 30, for the reception of a stud 28 which is headed over as at 3l to retain the spring in assembled position on the strap. The spring 21 and spring 28 are also notched as at 32, 33, to provide abutment shoulders 34 and 35 to receive the arms I8 and I1 of the body and assist in preventing rocking of the spring about the stud 26 as a center. The spring 21 is on the arc of a circle of a shorter radius than the edge 36 of the lens, so that its end portions 31 will engage the lens and it will be flexed as the lens is moved towards the surface 25 to align the opening 28 in the lens with the openings I8 and i9 in the arms.

The spring 28 is shorter than the spring 21 and is on an arc of shorter radius than the spring 21 having its end portions 38 engaging the spring 21 at points inwardly from the ends thereof. The spring 28 is also tempered to be more rigid or stiffer than the spring 21 so that the points of engagement at 38 will firmly support this spring 21 centrally and designedly, permitting more resilience of the spring 21 between the end 38 of the spring 28 and the point 31 of engagement of vthis longer spring 21.

As these springs being both arcute and the sur face 25 flat or ln a single plane, no spaced supports whatsoever are derived from the body, but an entirely flexible support is provided which is firm and yet should suilicient excess strain be exerted will offer some give prior to breakage. Further, these springs will slide one upon the other. and by being split up into several parts will give a greater exibility and at the same time a greater support or rmness than is possible by a single spring which might be inserted between the strap and the edge of the lens.

In Figure '1, I have shown a plurality of three leaf springs, 40, 4I and 42, with the same general scheme of arrangement as illustrated in the preceding figures, that is, each spring is progressively shorter as it is more distant from the lens, and each is progressively on the arc of a shorter radius and also each is progressively stiffer than the spring nearer to the lens to carry out the action above recited.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated spring 43 and spring 44 as extending in one direction only from the middle, which might for some purposes serve the intended desire. In this case a rigid finger 45 is formed for a support on one side of the strap.

In Figure 9 I have illustrated an inverted arrangement that is in this case the shorter spring 48 is nearest the lens and the springs are progres'sively longer as at 41 and 48, as they are more distant from the lens. In this case also, the springs are of an arc of shorter radius progressively, as they are more distant from the lens so as to support the ends of the next inner spring. These ends will not themselves also engage the edge of the lens.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being clefined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned between said body and the lens, the spring near the lens being longer and more flexible than the next spring in contact with it, and extending beyond the ends thereof, said longer spring being curved on an arc of greater radius than the next spring to it.

2. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, and a pair of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned between the body and the lens, the spring in contact withv the lens being longer than the other spring and extending beyond the ends thereof, said shorter spring being curved on an arc of shorter radius than the longer spring to contact with the longer spring adjacent to but spaced from its ends.

3. In an ophthalmic mounting, 'a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, and a pair of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned between the body and the lens, the spring in contact with the lens being longer than the other spring and extending beyond the ends thereof, said shorter spring being stiffer and curved on an arc of shorter radius than the longer spring to contact with the longer spring adjacent to but spaced from its ends.

4. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, said body having a dimension along the edge of the lens no greater than the largest dimension parallel thereto across one of said arms, means extending through the lens and arms for pivotally connecting the strap to the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned one overlying the other with the end portions of one spring engaging the edge of the lens, said springs when free from distortion inuences being on arcs of radii ydiffering in an amount greater than the thickness of said spring with the ends of the overlying spring contacting the underlying spring and held in compression between said body and the lens and tending to move the said body away from the edgeof the lens.

5. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, said body having a dimension along the edge of the lens no greater than the largest dimension parallel thereto across one of said arms, means extending through the lens and arms for connecting the strap to the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned one overlying the other and held in compression between said body and the lens, said springs being progressively graduated in length and when free from compression on arcs of radii diiering in an amount greater than the thickness of said spring with the ends ofthe overlying spring contacting the un- Aderlying spring.

6. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, said body having a dimension along the edge of the lens no greater than the largest dimension parallel thereto across on'e of said arms, means extending through the/ lens and arms for connecting the strap to the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned one overlying the other and held in compression between said body and the lens, said springs being progressivelygraduated in length with the longest spring in contact with the edge of the lens, and the shortest spring in contact with said body, said springs when free from compression being on arcs of different radii with the shortest spring having the arc of shortest radius and the longestl spring having the arc of longest radius.

7. A lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, said body having a dimension along the edge of the lens no greater than the largest dimension parallel thereto across one of said arms, and a plurality of separate arcuate springs positioned one overlying the other, means-for unitarily assembling said springs with and between said arms, said springs when so assembled and free from compression of theL lens being on arcs of radii diiering'in an amount greater than the thickness of said spring with the ends of the overlying spring contacting the underlying spring.

8. A lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, said body having a dimension along the edge of the lens no greater than the largest dimension parallel thereto across one of said arms,

and a plurality of separate arcuate springs positioned one Voverlying the other, means for uni- 9. In an ophthalmic, mounting, a lens, a lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, means extending through the lens and arms for pivotally connecting the strap to the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate leaf springs positioned one overlying the other with the end portions of one spring engaging the edge of the lens, said springs when free from distortion inuences being on arcs of radii diiering in a greater amount than'- the thickness of said spring with the ends of the overlying springs contacting the underlying spring and held in compression between said body and the lens and tending to move the said body away from the edge of the lens.

with the ends of the overlying springs contacting the underlying spring.

l1. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens, a lens =strap having a body portion and a pair of arms `to extend along opposite sides of the lens, means extending through the lens and arms for connecting the strap to the lens, and a plurality of sep: arate arcuate leaf springs positioned one overlying the other and held in compression between said -body and the lens, said springs being progressively graduated in length with the longest spring in contact with the edge of the lens, and the shortest spring in contact with said body, said springs when free from compression being on arcs of diierent radii with the shortest spring having the arc of shortest radius and the longest spring having the arc of longest radius.

l2. A lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate springs positioned one overlying the other, means for unitarily assembling said springs with and between said arms, said springs when so assembled and free from compression of the lens being on arcs of radii differing in a greater amount than the thickness of said spring with the ends of the overlying springs contacting the underlying spring` 13. A lens strap having a body portion and a pair of arms to extend along opposite sides of the lens, and a plurality of separate arcuate springs positioned one overlying the other, means for unitarily .assembling said springs with and between said arms, said springs when so assembled andfree from compression of the lens being on arcs of radii differing in a greater amount than the thickness of said 'spring with the ends oi the overlying springs contacting the underlyln spring, and with their'points of contact whe free from compression being progressively nearer to the center of the body portion o1' the shoe.

WAYNE S. SEARLES. 

